Paolino Properties brings Tesla to Providence

"...if somebody breaks the law or breaks regulations, they will go through the proper process... and they can be adjudicated. That's not up for Joey Paolino to figure that out."

In March, "A court upheld a finding that Tesla wrongly fired a worker involved in labor organizing and that a Twitter post by Elon Musk was illegally anti-union," according to the New York Times. In April, a United States labor board official ruled that Tesla supervisors at a Florida service center "violated United States labor law by telling employees not to discuss pay and other working conditions or bring complaints to higher level managers." Tesla, which makes electric cars, is the only major American auto manufacturer not represented by a union in the United States. As of January 2023, Tesla employs over 127,000 workers across the globe. None of them are unionized.

On Tuesday morning, Paolino Properties announced plans to bring a Tesla service center to the Reservoir Triangle neighborhood in Providence during a press conference at Mashapaug Commons Plaza, the future home of Tesla's new sales, service, and delivery location in Southern New England. The hub will include a repair facility, retail sales area, and delivery center, bringing nearly 30 full-time jobs to the facility. Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee, Rhode Island Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and Providence City Councilmember James Taylor joined Paolino Properties Managing Director and former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino, Jr. for the announcement.

Upon completion, the location will be over 76,000 square feet making it one of the largest Tesla locations in the New England market. The Providence hub will function as a service center for electric vehicles, providing new vehicle delivery, vehicle preparation, maintenance services, lease renewals, and as a parts depot for all regional locations. The location will also include a showroom and ancillary office spaces.

"This is a big day for Providence. This development is bringing jobs at every level to the community and will be game-changing for the neighborhood," said Joseph Paolino, Jr. "The conversion of this center into a service hub for Tesla is a meaningful milestone for the entire Southern New England region. It fills me with immense pride, as it signifies Providence's crucial role as a key player in a national endeavor towards a brighter, more sustainable future and the expansion of a promising new industry. Partnering with Tesla on this project is truly thrilling, and we eagerly anticipate the opening of the facility, symbolizing the completion of this transformative project."

Tesla employees were forbidden from speaking to the press at the event.

I asked Joseph Paolino about Tesla's track record on labor. The following has been edited for clarity.

Steve Ahlquist: Tesla has a pretty bad record of employee relations and union busting. Does that worry you at all?

Joseph Paolino: Not a bit.

Steve Ahlquist: Why not?

Joseph Paolino: Because they're investing $10 million here and they're coming into the neighborhood. I'll tell you what, if they don't come here and $10 million is not invested, this place is still empty. What do we want to have? [Labor issues] are for other people. That's above my pay grade. That's got nothing to do with Providence, Rhode Island.

Steve Ahlquist: You don't think how employees are treated has anything to do with Providence, Rhode Island?

Joseph Paolino: Today it's important to have a job, and if they have a job and they're happy with their salary, they're happy with their conditions, they're going to stay. If they're unhappy, they're going to leave.

Steve Ahlquist: Would you encourage a union here?

Joseph Paolino: I'm not going to answer that for other people. That's not for me to answer.

Steve Ahlquist: That's fine. I'm just wondering because Tesla does have a pretty bad labor record and Elon Musk is not known for being a great guy.

Joseph Paolino: I think we got to get away from the extremes of always yelling and screaming at companies that are investing dollars because of one or two areas. We're not always going to be at a hundred percent agreement, it's just not going to happen. We're Americans. We shouldn't agree on everything.

Steve Ahlquist: I understand that...

Joseph Paolino: But at the same time, just don't kill everything for the sake of killing and say, "Hey, we're winning the battle but losing the war."

Steve Ahlquist: I'm not yelling and screaming. I'm just asking questions.

Joseph Paolino: And I don't want to lose the war. $10 million being invested in this neighborhood is critically important. Then, if somebody breaks the law or breaks regulations, they will go through the proper process, through the Labor Relations Board, and they can be adjudicated. That's not up for Joey Paolino to figure that out.

Here’s the press conference video:

About Paolino Properties:

Paolino Properties is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated real estate investment, development, and management company. Led by Managing Partner Joseph R. Paolino Jr., Paolino Properties is one of the largest family-owned commercial real estate companies in New England, managing over 40 properties at a total of nearly 3 million square feet. With a diverse portfolio of retail, commercial, residential, and hospitality properties, the company has experience partnering with a wide-ranging client base in Providence and beyond. In addition to 100 Westminster Street, a Class A office building where the company is headquartered and which is a part of the iconic Providence skyline, Paolino Properties owns The Beatrice Hotel and a variety of Class A and Class B commercial properties, retail shopping centers, high-end residential developments, a world-class marina in Newport, and more than 1,000 parking spaces within the city of Providence.